Deprivation in West Lothian

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The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009

The Scottish Executive issued the first Scottish Index Of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) in 2004. It built on previous work to identify the most deprived areas across Scotland. The Index, was revised in 2006 and has now been revised again in 2009.

The SIMD is analysed for each of the 6,505 datazones (explained on the area & population page), in Scotland, enabling small clusters of deprivation to be identified. The SIMD provides a comprehensive picture of relative deprivation across Scotland.

Data zones are ranked from most deprived (1) to least deprived (6505) or grouped into percentage bandings, both in the overall SIMD and in each of the individual domains. Those zones in the top 15% overall (the top 976), or most deprived, have received additional regeneration funding. Note: Some health analysis groups the zones differently, e.g. the most deprived datazones will appear at the last decile rather than the first.

The SIMD 2004 was based on 31 indicators in 6 domains.
The SIMD 2006 is based on 37 indicators in 7 domains.
The SIMD 2009 is based on 38 indicators in 7 domains.

The domains can be be viewed separately, but the overall SIMD ranking is based on the joint statistical weighting of all domains. Due to changes in data sources, improvements to indicators and methodology, and fluctuations in zone populations between 2004, 2006 & 2009, most domains within the SIMD 2009 (with the exception of the Employment Domain), are not directly comparable with those in the SIMD 2006 or the SIMD 2004. Caution is therefore advised before making immediate comparisons between the 2004, 2006 & 2009 SIMD.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009

Key points:

West Lothian no longer has any datazones in the worst 5% banding across Scotland.
West Lothian's share in the worst 15% has risen from 14 in 2006 to 17 in 2009.
West Lothian's share of most deprived datazones in the health domain has risen from 6 in 2004, to 19 in 2006 and 35 in 2009. This is 16.6% of West Lothian’s 211 datazones. This may be explained by the increase in the number of emergency hospital admissions.
West Lothian still features significantly in the crime domain with 30 datazones in the most deprived 15% and eight in the most deprived 5%.
One underlying factor is that the situation in Glasgow has improved, so the datazones in the most deprived 15% are now distributed more widely across other authorities.

There is also a NEW Interactive Mapping Website for 2009.

The Domains in detail

Overall SIMD West Lothian no longer has any datazones in the 5% most deprived datazones in Scotland (there was 1 in 2006 and 0 in 2004). However, the number in the 10% most deprived datazones in Scotland has increased to 7 (there were 2 in both 2006 and 2004). The number in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland has increased to 17 (there were 14 in 2006 and 9 in 2004). The most deprived datazone in the overall SIMD 2009 in West Lothian is S01006450 (Livingston Knightsridge Furguson Way) with a rank of 438. The most deprived datazones in the Local Authority are in Livingston, Bathgate, Armadale and Whitburn. Several of these are in the 20% most deprived nationally. West Lothian has seen 10 datazones remain in the 15% most deprived from SIMD 2006 to SIMD 2009. 4 datazones have moved out and 7 have moved in. Livingston has seen 2 datazones move out and 2 move in. Whitburn has seen 3 datazones move in. The distribution of West Lothian datazone across the SIMD ranks has remained relatively similar across the three versions of the SIMD.

Current Income The 2006 SIMD income domain did not contain a measure of low income, as it was only based on the count & percentage of adults and their dependants in receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance and Guaranteed Pension Credits. The 2009 income domain also now includes Working and Child Tax Credit data and data on dependants (i.e. children in Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance households). These changes mean that the indicators used in SIMD 2009, SIMD 2006 and SIMD 2004 are different.

In the income domain in SIMD 2009, 16 (7.6%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones are in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland, compared to 18 (8.5%) in 2006 and 15 (7.1%) in 2004. The most deprived datazone in the income domain is S01006450 (Livingston Knightsridge Furguson Way), with a rank of 195. West Lothian has seen seven datazones moving out of the 15% most income deprived since SIMD 2006 but it has also seen 5 datazones moving in. Datazones moving in are in Whitburn, Bathgate and Livingston.

Employment The 2009 SIMD employment domain is directly comparable with both the SIMD 2006 & 2004. The 2009 SIMD is based on the count & percentage of men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59 who are on the claimant count, receive Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, New Deal for the under 25s and New Deal for the 25+ not already included in the claimant count).

In the employment domain in SIMD 2009, 16 (7.6%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones were found in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland, compared to 10 (4.7%) in 2006 and 9 (4.3%) in 2004. Employment deprived datazones are spread across the Local Authority with the most deprived in Blackburn, Whitburn, Stoneyburn and Bathgate. Five of the eight datazones that have moved into the 15% most employment deprived are in Blackburn or Whitburn. Two datazones have moved out, one in Bathgate. West Lothian saw an increase of 3% (390 people) in employment deprived people from SIMD 2006 to SIMD 2009.

HealthThe 2009 SIMD health domain is based on factors such as standardised mortality, comparative illness (recipients oof incapacity & disability benefits), hospital admissions, low weight births and the proportion of the population being prescribed drugs for anxiety, depression or psychosis. Since 2006 two technical changes have been made to indicators relating to hospital alcohol & drugs misuse, but these are not thought to hsave changed the results.

In the health domain in SIMD 2009, 35 (16.6%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones were found in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland, compared to 19 (9%) in 2006 and 6 (2.8%) in 2004. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 health domain in West Lothian is S01006416 (Bathgate Centre/Station) with a rank of 101.

Some Local Authorities including West Lothian have seen large increases in the percentage of their datazones in the 15% most deprived on the health domain. These changes are apparent even when using the old codes for the alcohol and drug indicators so it is not this change driving the increase and shows a relative worsening over time. There is a concentration of deprived datazones in Livingston but there are also health deprived datazones spread across the Local Authority area. There have been increases across datazones in the figures relating to emergency hospital admissions between the two periods 2001-04 to 2004-07. The high weighting would suggest that this might be the main explanatory factor & would link to the high proportion of elderly persons in the centre of Bathgate.

Education, Skills and Training The 2009 SIMD education domain is based on factors such as people aged 16-18 not in full time education (the calculation of which has been changed), working age people without qualifications, 17-21 year olds enrolling into higher education, pupil performance & School pupil absences.

In the education domain in SIMD 2009, 15 (1.5%) of the 976 datazones in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland were found in West Lothian, compared to 20 (2%) in 2006 and 29 (3%) in 2004. This relates to (7.1%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones (9.5%) in 2006 and (13.7%) in 2004. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 education domain in West Lothian is S01006408 (Livingston Craigshill Groves West) with a rank of 181.

Housing The 2009 SIMD is housing domain based on overcrowding and lack of central heating. This domain has remained unchanged, since 2006 & 2004. The overall weighting was reduced in 2006.

Geographic Access to Services This domain access domain now focusses solely on Access, and includes public transport times to various services such as post offices. The calculation has changed & this has affected the ranking. There are still 16 datazones in West Lothian in the most deprived 15% of zones in Scotland but these are different.

In the access domain in SIMD 2009, 16 (7.6%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones were found in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland, compared to 16 (7.6%) in 2006 and 21 (10%) in 2004. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 access domain in West Lothian is S01006295 (Rural Breich & Harwood) with a rank of 580. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 public transport sub-domain in West Lothian is S01006296 (Rural Harburn & West Calder) with a rank of 389. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 drive time sub-domain in West Lothian is S01006488 (Philpstoun / Threemiletown) with a rank of 543.

Crime The 2009 crime domain is based on rates per 10,000 for population for the selected crimes of violence, domestic housebreaking, vandalism, drug offences and minor assault. The data are now based on a financial rather than a calender year.

In the crime domain in SIMD 2009, 30 (3.1%) of the 976 datazones in the 15% most deprived datazones in Scotland were found in West Lothian, compared to 31 (3.2%) in 2006. This relates to (14.2%) of West Lothian’s 211 datazones compared to (14.7%) in 2006. The most deprived datazone on the SIMD 2009 crime domain in West Lothian is S01006416 (Bathgate Centre/Station) with a rank of 16.

SIMD 2009 - Datazones in the most deprived 15% of datazones in Scotland Rank refers to the 6505 zones in Scotland where 1 is the most deprived & 6505 is the least deprived.
Scottish Banding	Datazone - Approx Area	Multi-Member Ward	SIMD 2009 Rank	Income Deprived	Employment Deprived
Top 10%	Livingston Knightsridge Furguson Way	Livingston North	438	49%	18%
Top 10%	Livingston Craigshill Streets East	East Livingston & East Calder	465	45%	21%
Top 10%	Livingston Knightsridge Moncreiff Way	Livingston North	539	48%	19%
Top 10%	Armadale Mayfield	Armadale & Blackridge	569	39%	21%
Top 10%	Bathgate Centre Station	Bathgate	549	29%	28%
Top 10%	Stoneyburn East	Fauldhouse & Breich Valley	640	35%	25%
Top 10%	Blackburn North East	Whitburn & Blackburn	649	33%	29%
Top 15%	Whitburn Union Drive	Whitburn & Blackburn	654	41%	22%
Top 15%	Whitburn Brown Street	Whitburn & Blackburn	722	40%	23%
Top 15%	Bathgate Cochrane Street	Bathgate	758	32%	28%
Top 15%	Livingston Craigshill Groves West	East Livingston/East Calder	773	33%	19%
Top 15%	Livingston Dedridge Durward Rise	Livingston South	837	37%	19%
Top 15%	Loganlea	Fauldhouse & Breich Valley	839	35%	20%
Top 15%	Whitburn Whitdale School	Whitburn & Blackburn	919	30%	24%
Top 15%	Livingston Craigshill Groves East	East Livingston & East Calder	932	27%	18%
Top 15%	Fauldhouse Cricket Ground	Fauldhouse & Breich Valley	948	28%	22%
Top 15%	Armadale Mt Pleasant & Upper Bathville	Armadale & Blackridge	956	35%	22%

Note: An additional mapping exercise was undertaken in 2007 (as part of the locality planning process), to identify the most deprived 15% of zones in SIMD 2006 within West Lothian. These maps are attached, and a set will be produced for SIMD 2009.

Is the Index a useful measure?

There have been a number of criticisms of the index and its effectiveness in measuring deprivation across Scotland. These are that, as an area rather than an individual measure:(See, for example, paper from Fife Council)

It is not an appropriate measure of individual or household deprivation;
It is not an appropriate measure for income or employment deprivation (64% of individuals in income deprivation live outwith the 15% most deprived datazones);
It is affected by geographic factors like settlement size & rurality e.g. in urban Scotland, there is a concentration of deprived households in areas facing economic and population decline, with high proportions amongst elderly households. However, this is not the same in rural Scotland where there may be as many people dependent on benefit but fewer concentrations of deprived households.
These points were reflected in work carried out for the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee in 2005/6. Prof Glen Bramley (Herriot-Watt) reviewed the SIMD to assess its appropriateness as a mechanism for targeting resources on deprivation. He concluded that the SIMD is helpful for targeting selective area-based programmes tackling area deprivation, but found that:
it is less helpful in providing information for policy, allocating resources or monitoring outcomes;
it over-emphasises area rankings rather than measuring the absolute scale of deprivation;
it cannot be aggregated to different geographical levels or used to measure change over time;
it cannot readily compare the level of deprivation between areas;
it fails to highlight or give much weight to deprivation which is not geographically concentrated which is the general situation in remote rural and island areas;

New Poverty Figures (Issued July 17th 2009)

New poverty figures and information about cost of living data sources have recently been added to the Scottish Government income and poverty statistics website.

The new poverty statistics are based on analysis of the 2007/08 Family Resources Survey, the survey which is the main source for measures of poverty and the source used to produce the figures in “Poverty and income inequality in Scotland: 2007/08”.

The new figures show that:

In 2007/08 18 percent of individuals in urban areas were in relative poverty (before housing costs). In rural areas this figures was 14 percent.
In 2007/08 32 percent of individuals in deprived areas were in relative poverty before housing costs. In the rest of Scotland this figure was 15 percent.
In 2007/08 24 percent of individuals in disabled households were in poverty. For non-disabled households the figure was 14 percent.
Poverty is most prevalent among social renters (those that are renting from the council or housing associations) and households that are owned outright. Around a third of households of these tenure types are in relative poverty (before housing costs).
Between 1994/95 and 2007/08 household income in Scotland has been slightly, but consistently, more equally distributed than in Great Britain as a whole.

More detail

Cost of living data sources (Issued July 17th 2009)

A report which discusses the data sources that can be used to examine the cost of living in urban and rural areas has also been published. More Detail